Collar Tape System

ABSTRACT

A collar protecting tape apparatus and dispensing system for protecting the interior surface of a garment collar, comprising a semi-visible adhesive strip of dimensions to protect a collar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/942,116 filed Jun. 5, 2007.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of collar guards and more specifically to a system for dispensing tape material to protect garment collars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a segment of collar tape.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of one embodiment of a dispensing apparatus for dispensing collar tape.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of one embodiment of a dispensing apparatus for dispensing collar tape.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of collar tape positioned within a collar.

GLOSSARY

As used herein, the term “semi-visible” means a material that blends in with a background of a garment and is selected or manufactured so as not to detract from the appearance of the garment, and may include a material that is color coordinated to match the garment, a transparent material, or semi-transparent material.

As used herein, the term “garment” means any article of clothing having a collar or material which comes in contact with the neck, underarms or any portion of the body.

As used herein, the term “non-irritating” means any substance or material which comes in contact with skin, particularly the neck, without causing discomfort or irritation.

As used herein, the term “collar tape” means a substance having one adhesive side for adhering to a garment.

As used herein, the term “perforation” or “perforated” means a section or plurality of tape segments which is scored, cut, weakened or otherwise constructed so as to make separation or tearing easier.

As used herein, the term “protective component” means any plastic, paper or other substance which preserves and protects the adhesive on tape from sticking to objects until the tape is ready to be used. A protective component may be peeled, tabbed or disposable.

As used herein, the term “dispenser” means a container or apparatus for dispensing plastic, paper or other substance which preserves and protects the adhesive on tape from sticking to objects until the tape is ready to be used.

As used herein, the term “segment” or “tape segment” means one unit of collar protecting tape to be used by one user to protect a surface of a garment collar. A segment may be of any dimensions, but most commonly will be small, medium and large sizes as disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While there are other protective collar devices that may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they are less suitable for the purpose served by the present invention and more costly to manufacture. Prior art in the field of collar guards has primarily relied upon the use of multiple layers of material for absorbing perspiration, and separate adhesive layers or means of affixation (such as snaps, buttones or holes) affixed to the absorbant layer.

Is desirable to have a device and dispensing system which does not rely on collar protection components requiring multiple layers of material which are expensive to manufacture and require machining or human labor to assemble the layers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The instant invention is a disposable protective collar tape which may be manufactured and dispensed in varying shapes, configurations and sizes (e.g., to accommodate small, medium and large neck sizes), and system for dispensing the collar tape.

The invention disclosed herein is an inexpensively manufactured and easily dispensed protective collar tape for protecting the interior surface of a garment collar from the neck perspiration of the person wearing the garment, comprised of a layer of protective material (which may be absorbent or moisture resistant) to which an adhesive substance is affixed to one side, allowing the invention to adhere to the surface of a shirt collar. The protective collar tape is removable after the garment has been worn.

An object of the present invention is to provide a collar guard providing a barrier against soiling elements such as dirt, perspiration, makeup, hair care products and skin oils between a wearer's neck and a garment collar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collar guard apparatus and system that is inexpensive to manufacture and dispense in single-use, disposable segments.

Other objects of the invention include providing a collar guard that can be obscured from view, for example by being constructed of a substantially transparent or color-coordinated material which blends in with any color of garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of a protective moisture-resistant collar strip, only some of which are depicted in the figures. It should nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components, alternate but functionally similar materials from which the a protective moisture-resistant collar strip and dispensing system may be made. The inclusion of additional elements are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the written description do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following description. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near indentical structural elements.

Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. For example, other embodiments of the protective moisture-resistant collar strip may be made of colored, transparent, translucent or substantially translucent material, and may be stored in a specially adapted or designed dispenser.

Various embodiments of the collar tape described herein may be perforated, rolled and attached at the distal ends, to be dispensed from a central roller or from a dispenser into which a roller is inserted.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of protective collar tape 100 for protecting the interior surface of a garment collar from the neck perspiration of the person wearing the garment, the garment collar having a first end 110 and second end 120 are slightly wider than mid-section 130. However, in other embodiments first end 110, second end 120 and midsection 130 can by of uniform width or of any other shape or variation which does not alter the functionality of protective collar tape 100.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1, further includes front surface 1 a which is smooth and moisture resistant (not shown) and back surface 1 b which includes an adhesive substance (not shown) covered with protective components 140 and 150 which cover the adhesive protective collar tape 100 until the adhesive protective collar tape 100 segment is ready for use by affixation of the adhesive to the surface of a shirt collar. Other embodiments may include fewer or additional protective components, or may omit such components altogether for use of protective collar tape 100 in a dispensing device in which protective components are not necessary because adhesive may be in contact directly with a surface of the dispensing device. In the embodiments shown protective components 140 and 150 are peeled away and discarded.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are perforated edges 170 and 180 for attaching multiple adhesive collar tape 100 segments for dispensing.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an apparatus for dispensing protective collar tape 200 in segments for a user. The embodiment shown includes dispenser housing 220 and dispensing roll 240 to which multiple segments of protective collar tape 100 are affixed for dispensing.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an apparatus for dispensing adhesive protective collar tape 300 in segments for a user. The embodiment shown includes dispensing housing 320 and dispensing roll structure 340 to which multiple segments of protective collar tape 100 are affixed for dispensing.

FIG. 3 further shows perforated edge 170 separating multiple segments of protective collar tape 100. Also shown is mounting aperture 350 for mounting apparatus for dispensing adhesive protective collar tape 300 on a wall, rack, hook, display unit or closet structure. Dispensing slot 370 is also shown. In alternative embodiments of apparatus for dispensing adhesive protective collar tape 300, protective collar tape segments may be dispensed from a stack through dispensing slot 370 or affixed directly to dispensing roll structure 340 without any barrier between the adhesive side and the surface of dispensing roll structure 340.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of protective collar tape 100 the present invention installed between the collar and wearer's neck skin. The present invention is placed on the inside circumference of the collar to absorb any moisture that may accumulate on the wearer's neck due to perspiration, so that staining of the collar does not occur. In the embodiment shown, the visibility of protective collar tape 100 is concealed within the collar surface, however, protective collar tape 100 may be folded over the upper edge of the collar for additional support and protection. 

1. A collar tape device for protecting a collar of a garment, comprising: a semi-visible material having a first side and a second side; and an adhesive attached to said second side, said adhesive capable of adhering to the surface of a garment collar.
 2. The collar tape device of claim 1 which further includes at least one removable adhesive protective component attached to said second layer covering said adhesive to preserve said adhesive
 3. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein said semi-visible material is a substantially clear plastic material.
 4. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein said semi-visible material is of a color selected to match a garment and minimize visibility.
 5. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein at least one collar tape segment is attached to at least one additional collar protective tape segment and separated by a perforated edge.
 6. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein said semi-visible material is non-absorbent.
 7. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein said semi-visible material is moisture resistant.
 8. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein said first layer is absorbent.
 9. The collar tape device of claim 1 wherein said collar protector tape is dispensed in segments from a rolling structure, and wherein each of said segments connected by at least one perforated edge.
 10. A collar protector tape dispensing system for protecting a collar of a garment, comprising: at least one segment of collar tape comprised of a semi-visible material having a first side and a second side; an adhesive attached to said second side said adhesive capable of adhering to the surface of a garment collar; and at least one removable protective component attached to said second layer covering said adhesive to preserve said adhesive.
 11. The collar protector tape dispensing system of claim 10 which further includes at least one dispenser for dispensing at least one segment of collar protector tape.
 12. The collar protector tape dispensing system of claim 10 which further includes a roll which includes at least one segment of collar protector tape to be dispensed.
 13. The collar protector tape dispensing system of claim 10 which further includes at least one segment of collar protective tape separated by a perforated edge and positioned on a roll for dispensing.
 14. The collar protector tape dispensing system of claim 10 where said dispenser has at least one aperture for mounting said dispenser on a structure selected from a group consisting of a hook, a wall, a display, a closet fixture and a rack.
 15. A collar protecting tape dispensing apparatus for protecting a collar of a garment, comprising: a dispenser housing adapted to receive least one segment of collar guard tape comprised of a semi-visible material having a first side and a second side, and an adhesive attached to the first side of said first layer said adhesive capable of adhering to the surface of a garment collar; and at least one aperture for dispensing at least one segment of collar protector tape.
 16. The collar protecting tape dispensing apparatus of claim 15 wherein said dispenser is further adapted to receive a roll having at least one segment of collar protector tape separated by a perforated edge and positioned on a roll for dispensing.
 17. The collar protecting dispensing tape apparatus of claim 15 which further includes an aperture for mounting said collar protecting dispensing tape apparatus on a structure selected from a group consisting of a wall, a display, a hook, a rack and a closet fixture.
 18. The collar protecting dispensing tape apparatus of claim 15 wherein said collar protector tape is dispensed from a stack of color protector tape segments. and at least one removable a protective component attached to said second layer covering said adhesive to preserve said adhesive; and
 19. The collar protecting dispensing tape apparatus of claim 15 wherein said collar protecting tape further includes and at least one removable a protective component attached to said second layer covering said adhesive to preserve said adhesive.
 20. The collar protecting dispensing tape apparatus of claim 15 which is further capable of dispensing said collar tape in varying lengths 